Monsignor Thomas Gaffney, 79, the pastor of St. Charles R.C. Church in Oakwood, Staten Island for more than two decades, died Saturday. Born in New Rochelle, Monsignor Gaffney was a parishioner of Holy Family R.C. Church and attended Cathedral Prep and Cathedral College. He entered St. Joseph's Seminary, in Dunwoodie, NY, in 1944. Monsignor Gaffney, assigned to the then cash strapped St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School in Huguenot, Staten Island in 1973, is largely credited with the school's turnaround. Monsignor Gaffney was assigned to head St. Charles in 1982, and he focused his attention on the school and boosting its enrollment. Monsignor Gaffney is survived by a brother, Dr. Edmund J. Gaffney. Cardinal Egan will preside at a Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM Wednesday at St. Charles in Staten Island. The Harmon Home for Funerals in West Brighton, Staten Island is handling arrangements.